Those wanting a U.S. war in Syria could not clearly show a U.S. national interest then, and they have been proven foolish now. A more realistic foreign policy would recognize that there are evil people and tyrannical regimes in this world, but also that America cannot police or solve every problem across the globe. Only after recognizing the practical limits of our foreign policy can we pursue policies that are in the best interest of the U.S.

The Islamic State represents a threat that should be taken seriously. But we should also recall how recent foreign-policy decisions have helped these extremists so that we don't make the same mistake of potentially aiding our enemies again.

"It's disappointing that Rand Paul, as a Senator and a potential presidential candidate, blames America for all the problems in the world, while offering reckless ideas that would only alienate us from the global community.

"Unfortunately, this is nothing new for Paul. Last week he criticized American policy to the president of another country on foreign soil. This week he's blaming the Obama Administration for another nation's civil war. That type of "blame America" rhetoric may win Paul accolades at a conference of isolationists but it does nothing to improve our standing in the world. In fact, Paul's proposals would make America less safe and less secure.

"Simply put, if Rand Paul had a foreign policy slogan, it would be - The Rand Paul Doctrine: Blame America. Retreat from the World."

Greenwald

Look at how the DNC is attacking Rand Paul's foreign policy - *exactly how Jeanne Kirkpatrick attacked The Left

I would predict the largest number of party members crossing party lines since Reagan Democrats. You could have neo-cons and moderate Repubs voting Clinton, and anti-war anti-authoritarian Dems voting Paul.

It would be interesting, in a horse race sense, to watch. But I just can't see Paul surviving the Republican primaries.

Over 1,000 tweets about Obama's suit, passes House lawsuit against White House for most "Obama suit" tweets in a day
3:18 PM - 28 Aug 2014

`Yes, we tan'

"Taupe and change,"

"When your suit is the main attraction and everyone forgets you're even talking..."

----then there was the peanut gallery

"What kind of president wears taupe?" said Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). "He should be wearing a blue suit with a white shirt and a red tie... every time. This is America after all. Why does he make visible his hatred for the greatest nation on earth."

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said, "It's an atrocity is what it is. Taupe? On our leader? It makes him look weak and feckless. As though he would just allow anyone to walk all over us. Putin would never wear Taupe."

"I would never wear a taupe suit there," said Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). "I would never wear it anywhere. I would not wear it on that stage. I would not wear it at any age. I would never wear a suit so informal. His hatred for our nation isn't normal."

"I liked his suit," said Sarah Palin. "I liked it better on my daughters Ken doll from the 90s, but he pulled it off. Hahaha... gosh darnit."

Rev Al was giving him wardrobe advise yesterday. Possibly only only person it is less advisable to take that advise from than me. You should have seen his fashion pics. Hilarious. Bright red to knee length seersucker.

"That suit is terrible," tweeted Slate writer Jamelle Bouie, in one of the more restrained negative responses.

OK, here's one more: "Obama vows to defeat whoever made him wear this suit," tweeted The New York Times's Josh Barro.

Tan suits aren't that bad. What's been lost in a lot of the Twitter uproar is that they used to be standard Washington summer wear for men. K Street at lunch hour used to be a sea of khaki, with an occasional greenish-tan variation.

He has to be there at 6:45 a.m. four days a week for concert band. How he is doing it, I have no clue. What a kid. (I mean, they wouldn't make the debate kids show up at that hour to practice their rhetoric, nor the drama kids to rehearse their play, so why musicians -- adolescent musicians who need their sleep more than anyone -- are made to show up at that hour, I am mystified and not very happy. But, like I said, he's getting it done and managing all A's academically so far. Knock on brass. First HS band performance is this weekend at the Millbrae Wine & Art Festival. Now if we can just get his old man back into the game of life. Oy...

Psst, btw, did I tell you that my son and his wife had the most gorgeous baby boy a couple of months ago? Kid's gonna be a genius, I tell you.
And my daughter? Wow! She gave me the most gorgeous little girl the world's ever seen. Smart, beautiful, she stood in ALL the lines!

Daughter Zorba, involved in drama and choir, didn't have to show up early. Their practices were after school. And the athletes don't seem to have to show up early, either. Their practices were also after classes.
Maybe it's just Dadler Son's school?
In any case, high schools tend to start too early for adolescent physiology. Making them show up even earlier is totally counter-productive.Link.

About to start taking it a little less easy. I only get worried now because my probs are so low, I could possible blow it out again and, gasp, lose control of the ol' bladder and bowels. When doc tells me that, which I already knew from research, I just say shut up. Backs are such a crapshoot, much like the brain, just without the "baggage." Well, a different type of baggage anyway. But honestly, I could be doing a lot worse. Every doctor that sees images of it kind of shudders and then asks how I could possible be walking so well and be so limber with that mess I am working with. So I say shut up again, then keep on doing my thing.

Not much else I can do short of a spinal fusion or some experimental crap that is a bigger dice roll than a fusion.

Just gotta hang tough for another few decades, then I won't care about the diaper.

;-)

Thanks for the thoughts, and for the Poody toons, I should be commenting and liking again.

They wear at least as much stuff as the band members, if not more, and they practice after school.
Besides, Dadler said concert band, not marching band.
In most schools that I am aware of, the concert band practices and performs indoors.

That if anyone attempted time travel, the earth wouldn't be in the same place in its celestial course.

I'm kinda shocked, I had never thought about it. I was always told if time travel were possible we would know, we would have visitors. So I say that maybe the failures are out there floating around in space, but Josh corrects me. They would have imploded...unless they burned up re-entering the atmosphere or were smashed unexpectedly impacting the earth.

Not with your son; that boy can blow! The whole band was great. Money well spent, no doubt.
I played trumpet when I was about his age, so, I know a little bit about wind instruments. Surprised they all had such good diaphragm control and endurance.

Now, your kid; he was fantastic, and, such a looker, too! But, the grapevine says you're an ugly slug, so, it must all come from his mother.....figures.

Seriously, fist bump, and, high five to you, D.

p.s.......If you write your address I'll send you a couple of bucks; when was the last time your boy ate? Feed the kid, will ya! No wonder you know all about "cripes."

Every year for the past six years in a row, the Congressional Budget Office has reduced its estimate for Medicare expenses. The latest estimate for federal expenditures for 2019 and that made for 2019 four years ago is less by about $95 billion--a sum greater than what the government is expected to spend that year on unemployment insurance, welfare and Amtrak, combined. While some economists peg the reduction to the recession, the CBO says that plays a negligible part. Apparently, Obamacare, in particular, has made significant reductions to Medicare spending in hospitals and private plans. And, the Budget Control Act of 2011, also made cuts in spending. These Acts have influenced changes in the practice of medicine that have budgetary impacts.

A revised prediction for the fiscal year by the CBO is $506 billion, below the $680 billion deficit during the previous fiscal year. This will be the fifth consecutive year that the deficit has declined as a share of the gross domestic product, from 9.8 percent in 2009 to a project ed 2.9 percent during the current fiscal year. That is below the average deficit of 3.1 percent of economic output over the last four decades.

Simpson/Bowles still have Social Security to misrepresent, so there is still work for them to do. Free economic advice: keep the cat food.

that just so happens to be a lighter shade of pale than my town was up in arms about a local church offering to house and feed some child refugees. "Property values" before people...heartbreakingly embarrassing.

"We're not against helping people," said Michael Cantwell, of Commack. "Is it the right place, is the question, and most people in the neighborhood and this immediate area don't think so."

iow, they're not against other people helping other people, they just don't wanna help anybody. Mighty white of ya Commack!

it's not gold coast, not even close, we ain't talking Upper Brookville or The Hamptons here...I'd consider Commack a middle class working people neighborhood...you'd expect the nimbyism from the Lifestyles of the Rich & Infamous set, I expected better from Commack. It's like Arizona up in their town halls!

Wall St. can knock their property values in half and get their arses laid off, no worries...but god forbid a Guatemalan kid live in the church across the street for a spell!

Why oh why are we still falling for the tired kick the dog/divide and conquer scam? If ya can't fool all the people all the time, you certainly can fool a majority of the people a majority of the time.

That 2,200 new arrivals would have a negligible impact on services. These are overwhelmingly non-
English speaking children from very poor countries, whose relatives here also belong to a demographically disadvantaged group. Also, as recent arrivals, the costs would just be starting. As for the advocates, what else would you expect them to say?

I'm not saying they shouldn't be helped, or that the cost isn't worth it; just that it seems counterintuitive, and should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt.

community such as LI's, it makes sense. Especially my neighborhood, Brentwood, with the majority being hispanic, mostly Central American. They bust their arse and support themselves and their families, like the vast majority of immigrants. Pay mad taxes too. There is existing bilingual education framework in place. We could welcome a lot more to little or no ill effect.

Aside...I wonder if we can file this phenomenon under the war on Christianity tab as well. Where are the local boys O'Reilly and Hannitty on that angle?

Probably no fingerprints on the gun. But it will be interesting to see. On the other hand the if Brown did grab the weapon there is a better chance he left some DNA. There is also a claim that Brown was cut on his right hand and that is explained by his grabbing the weapon while it was being fired.

I mean after all he was a HUGE guy, so he MUST have had HUGE hands!!!! Plus, remember, HE BROKE THE GUY'S EYE!!!! so it would seem he would have extensive damage to his knuckles, along with the cut he got while trying to STEAL the officer's weapon . . . just sayin' :P

where I asked for a link to the Baden report. I have seen claims about what is in it, but not the report itself. True there is a pix of the body and where the gun shot wounds were but not the whole report.

Another bullet dispatched kid dead for walking while black and I'm back to trying to find nonexistent black youth finger prints on guns again? Just shoot me now! Get it over with! Stop dragging it out with the daily threat!

way in which this whole episode started, I don't understand why Brown's "reaching for" or "struggling for" or "attempting to get control of" the gun is assumed to be with the intent to harm the officer, and not with the intent to prevent the cop from shooting him.

Especially if Johnson is correct that Wilson was saying, "I'm gonna shoot you." Given all the other bad decisions Wilson had made that served only to escalate the situation, I think Brown had every reason to be afraid, and no reason to think that the cop would not find a reason to use the weapon no matter what Brown did while his head was inside the vehicle.

There's a lot of talk about self-defense on the part of Wilson, but at what point does Brown fear for his own life at the hands of a cop who's clearly out of control, and have the right to protect himself?

Glide has also posted a note on its Web site. In a brief chat with the Erik Wemple Blog, Haas said, "The question we are being asked is is this authentic and the answer is absolutely." Notification to the FBI, said Haas, "is taking place."

an autopsy, I suppose it was subsequent to the autopsy performed by the St. Louis Co. medical examiner but preliminary to the autopsy to be performed by the military pathologist under the auspices of the F.B.I.

No executive order, but would support an amendment reversing the decision.

While eying a potential presidential run that would surely be boosted by deep-pocketed super PACs, Hillary Clinton said Monday evening that she's open to supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which opened the door to the outside groups and the flood of money that poured into the political process with them.

Taking questions from Facebook users at the social media giant's California headquarters Monday evening, Clinton expressed some interest in the idea. "I would consider supporting an amendment among these lines that would prevent the abuse of our political system by excessive amounts of money if there is no other way to deal with the Citizen's United decision," she said in response to a question on the measure.

Do you know if any Supreme Court Justice has ever been impeached? Starting with the Gore/Bush treasonous decision, followed by countless "crimes against humanity," and, up to the C.U. monstrosity, this Court has set itself apart from all others.

The Republicans have no problem threatening President Obama for the most childish, nonsensical crap, why not let the Supremes know that their ant-American decisions will be noted, if not for actual change, at least for posterity?

... who was appointed to the High Court by President George Washington in 1796, was impeached by the U.S. House in late 1804 on eight counts involving various cases over which he presided while serving as a federal circuit court judge. (U.S. Supreme Court justices used to pull double duty back in the day, and also served as trial judges until the latter part of the 19th century.) He was subsequently acquitted in the Senate on all charges in March 1805, and remains the only member of the U.S. Supreme Court to have ever been impeached.

Fortas remained on the bench, but in 1969, a new scandal arose. Fortas had accepted a $20,000 retainer from the family foundation of Wall Street financier Louis Wolfson, a friend and former client, in January 1966.[16] Fortas had signed a contract with Wolfson's foundation. In return for unspecified advice, it was to pay Fortas $20,000 a year for the rest of Fortas's life (and then pay his widow for the rest of her life). Wolfson was under investigation for securities violations at the time and it was alleged that he expected that his arrangement with Fortas would help him stave off criminal charges or help him secure a presidential pardon. He did ask Fortas to help him secure a pardon from LBJ, which Fortas claimed that he did not do. Fortas recused himself from Wolfson's case when it came before the Court and had earlier returned the retainer, but not until Wolfson had been indicted twice.[4]

Associate Justice Samuel Chase was impeached, but was acquitted by the Senate in 1805.Link.
I'm old enough to remember the whole "Impeach Earl Warren" push, too, but that never went anywhere in Congress.

a while back, I fantasized about how The Left, and, the Tea Party might meet "in the middle" on some issues. Anti Wall Street and Anti-Corruption are two issues the T.P. feels very strongly about.

I hinted in my previous post that even if the attempt was unsuccessful, the publicity itself would have a positive effect, and, might just send a worrisome message to those pompous blowhards on the S.C. Right.

Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. What demographic group doesn't "get" that leaving our [s]elected officials up to the oligarchs is a bad, bad idea?

Oh there are various groups that claim to follow the
Tea Party ideals. They often quarrel with each other. Some are more Libertarian than anything else. And some have morphed into, as in TN, the Constitution Party.

`For No Good Reason' is a visually stunning unique biographical study of Ralph Steadman, whose art rose to prominence during his collaborations with writer Hunter S Thompson. In the finest Gonzo tradition questions of witness and authenticity are constantly challenged, as the film smashes narrative conventions, moving seamlessly from interview to animation and soundscape.

We observe Steadman over fifteen years as he creates a wealth of art. For the first time his work is animated, including the drawings from `Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. There is an animated prequel to the feature, Cherrywood Cannon, which is read by Richard E Grant.

Music from Slash, The All American Rejects, Jason Mraz, Lynval Golding, James Blake, Crystal Castles, Thom Crawford and Ed Hardcourt, each who have recorded tracks to their chosen visual chapter.

`For No Good Reason' is a cohesive, touching and at times funny film about honesty, friendship and the ambition that drives an artist.

Never has a truer record been made on the demise of the 20th Century counterculture and hipster dream - Ralph Steadman is the last of the Gonzo visionaries.

some of his writings over to Ralph in London when he found out I was going to Europe years ago. Ralph met me at Heathrow and we went directly to his fabulous studio/home for lunch. There were literally thousands of pieces of his art rather messily strewn everywhere. I wanted to stay there longer but had to go to work in the Alps filming skiers.

for pity's sake consider writing your memoir? It would be fascinating to read.
If you don't want to write an entire autobiography, at least think about starting a website and posting some of your stories online.
Do that, and I'll send you a pan of baklava. And some more Greek recipes. ;-)

A bad day fishing in the Keys is still a great day fishing as there are no bad days for bonefish or permit... unless the wind is howling...and then it's a great day for grouper sandwiches and beer. I suspect between the beer, fishing, and lobster tails there is little time for penning Tales from Fishcamp.

and I went out for about 10 minutes when the other terrible thing started happening...lightening. And me out there with carbon graphite fishing rods and a 22' push pole lightening attractor. So I don't know how you knew but I'm having a grouper sandwich and a beer right now at Lazy Days restaurant. BTW lobster season just opened again but I just buy them from the commercial guy down the canal...no more diving for me.

Would agree with you, no matter the location of the fishing.
It's all good, according to him.
Hey, it keeps him happy, who am I to complain? And he does bring home some wonderful fresh-caught fish for us to eat.
Even if he doesn't bring home any fish (whether because the fishing was not productive, or because it was "catch and release" season), he still returns relaxed, happy, and refreshed.
No small thing. ;-)

Met either of those characters. Steadman has been a god to me since the 70s. I do have a signed copy of Steadmans Alice in Wonderland but sadly I did not get the signature. If my house was burning it's one of the things I would grab.

While the medical examiners haves said Towns' death was a homicide, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard is still waiting on evidence before decided if he will present the matter to a grand jury for possible criminal charges.

Both officers were also black.

Two former East Point police officers might have discharged their Tasers more than twice as many times as they reported in the death of a 24-year-old man in April, according to an attorney.

Odd they don't seem to have been showered with support, sympathy and money.

I heard a couple more rejectionist Governors are softening up to the program.

I mean, c'mon now, get real. This is an issue that even the dumbest, low information voter, from Ruby Red States, gets that health care for their families is a good thing. And, the fact that the States are getting it practically free from the Feds makes it a no-brainer.

How long did those Governors think they could hold off the Health care envy their voters must feel watching their cousins in neighboring States getting it, and, not them?

over 20 years ago if a Democratic proposal to reform health care in passed the Congress and sgned into law, just substitute Obama for Clinton in the following passage:

But the long-term political effects of a successful Clinton health care bill will be even worse-much worse. It will relegitimize middle-class dependence for "security" on government spending and regulation. It will revive the reputation of the party that spends and regulates, the Democrats, as the generous protector of middle-class interests. And it will at the same time strike a punishing blow against Republican claims to defend the middle class by restraining government.

The big problem is that nobody wants to go to the status quo ante, where people could be turned down for insurance because of a preexisting condition, or it was expensive if you didn't get it through your work(and sometimes, even then it could be costly).

Also, people have begun to realize that the 'death panels' aren't going to be there to decide who gets to live and who dies.

Here in Colorado the ads are positively spewing with the "repeal Obamacare" message.

Worse than that, though (because I think people will apply their own experience to the ACA as opposed to taking the word of Cory Gardner) is Andrew Romanoff running commercials about needing to balance the [federal] budget. And I used to really like him.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, said Pennsylvania's plan was different from Arkansas's and Iowa's because the newly eligible Medicaid population would not choose private plans through the new online insurance marketplace. Instead, Ms. Alker said, they will enroll in managed-care plans offered by private insurance companies outside the exchange.

"To me it's a lot of rhetoric," she said. "The majority of Medicaid beneficiaries in Pennsylvania already get their services through managed care, from private insurance companies that the Medicaid program contracts with. So he's really just adding a layer of complexity here."

"There was a... a truck and it was skidding..."
"Yup," I said.
"I... I died?"
----
"Oh," you said. "So what happens now? Do I go to heaven or hell or something?"
"Neither," I said. "You'll be reincarnated."
"Ah," you said. "So the Hindus were right,"
"All religions are right in their own way," I said. "Walk with me."
----
"So what's the point of it all?"
"Seriously?" I asked. "Seriously? You're asking me for the meaning of life? Isn't that a little stereotypical?"
"Well it's a reasonable question," you persisted.
I looked you in the eye. "The meaning of life, the reason I made this whole universe, is for you to mature."
"You mean mankind? You want us to mature?"
"No, just you. I made this whole universe for you. With each new life you grow and mature and become a larger and greater intellect."
"Just me? What about everyone else?"
"There is no one else," I said. "In this universe, there's just you and me."
----
You fell silent.
"Every time you victimized someone," I said, "you were victimizing yourself. Every act of kindness you've done, you've done to yourself. Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will be, experienced by you."
You thought for a long time.
"Why?" You asked me. "Why do all this?"
"Because someday, you will become like me. Because that's what you are. You're one of my kind. You're my child."
"Whoa," you said, incredulous. "You mean I'm a god?"
"No. Not yet. You're a fetus. You're still growing. Once you've lived every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be born."
"So the whole universe," you said, "it's just..."
"An egg." I answered. "Now it's time for you to move on to your next life."
And I sent you on your way.

This is the type of imagination you fight fundamentalism with on a very profound level. The desperate gasps of the free and mortal and conscious mind. Existence is limitless. There are infinite universes, and that seems certainly more evident than "all men are created equal." The bigger you get, the smaller you are. IMO anyway. And none of it probably makes any sense, so forgive me.

Actually, on that thread, according the guy did all the research, all of the eye-witnesses we've heard interviewed who had similar descriptions of Brown putting his hands up, etc., were all gathered together on the grassy knoll immediately following the shooting, and were all talking to each other about what they'd seen.

I think he also says that's where the first news camera interviews were done.

Anyway, his theory is these eye-witnesses all talked about and heard each other's stories and, consciously or subconsciously, that's why all their stories are so similar.

And that the eye-witnesses who did not gather on the knoll had differing stories.

It isn't enough to have the capability to destroy global civilization several times over :)

The Pentagon really had to get an Admiral in front of the cameras to reassure the people that when the President said he did not have a plan for ISIS in Syria that that didn't mean he's skeered of them, they can kick our arse with one hand behind their back, and a plan is not possible...not ever...ever

But I am perfectly happy with him saying we are, I would hope, being a tad thoughtful before acting in some more bold fashion, whatever fashion and form of bold that would be.

Personally, you know me, I wish we would use the wildly imaginative powers this country possesses in many areas, the blue jeans and rock and roll that really "ended" the cold war, and put them to global political use. Let us lead the world in self-critical analysis and imagination. Right now, however, we're still too mired in rotted mindsets to understand what propaganda can really mean in this age, and for a really screwy beautiful nation such as ours.

My son was driving on his permit when he got stopped. When asked, he informed the cop (and me) that he had no permit on him, as required. The cop addressed me by name, having run the plate. He asked my son if he knew why he was stopped. Yes officer, I was speeding (great answer). As he walks away I'm trying to calculate the ticket. He comes back, have a nice day. I actually asked him if he wanted my license and registration; he said no, and left. Didn't even tell my kid not to speed. I joked to myself, I guess that white privilege thing is real, and told my son that had never happened in my life, and probably never would.

A few days later and a town or two over, stopped again, this time for nothing. Cop starts yelling right away, said my son was going 20mph over the limit. I said no he wasn't; puts his hand on his gun, orders me out. Against the car, cuffed, frisked. Acted like he was doing me a favor by not beating or shooting me for speaking the truth, but never did give me a ticket. Back in the car I said, now THAT is the kind of cop I remember growing up in Boston. Taught him a valuable lesson if he didn't already know it.

"I would predict the largest number of party members crossing party lines since Reagan Democrats. You could have neo-cons and moderate Repubs voting Clinton, and anti-war anti-authoritarian Dems voting Paul.
It would be interesting, in a horse race sense, to watch. But I just can't see Paul surviving the Republican primaries."

Agreed, I have a rough time seeing Paul survive the primaries as the neocon money will come in hard against him.

Assuming he does, he won't be able to beat Hillary anyway. He has an extremist right economic policy. A flat tax will help the top 1% even more than they are now. And that is one group in America that doesnt need any help.

I think Hillary will have a very similar foreign policy as Obama anyway.